Skeleton tower



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. S. ADAMS.

n SKELETON TOWER. t No. 297,338. Patented Apr. 22, 1884.

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'7c-'w X 'Tn 1T-l E E Z' VVITNEZESES- N. PETERS. Phnko-Llhogruplwr.Washingtnn, IIC

(No Model.) l 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. I

J. S. ADAMS.

SKELETON TOWER.

No. 297,838. I Patented Apr. 22, 1884.

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N. PETERS. Piwwlimgnpher. wnsni nnnnnn t;

3 Sheets Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

J. S. ADAMS.

SKBLBTON TOWER.

Patented Apr mure im N, PETERS mxo-Lilhagnphnr, Wilmington D. C,

IINTTsn STATES FATTTNT Ormes.

JOHN S. ADAMS, OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE DETROIT IRON TOVERCOMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

sKsLs'roN TOWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 297,338, dated April22, 1884.

Application lled May 3l, 1883. Renewed March 17, 1884.

l To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, JOHN S. ADAMS, of Elgin, in the county of Kane andState of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful In'xprovementsin `Skeleton Towers; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention has reference to towers more particularly intended forthe support of electric lamps in cities; and it relates, first, tofeatures of construction by which an equilateral triangular tower y'maybe placed at one corner of a street without obstructing passage beneathit; second, to improvements in towerelevators for hoisting the attendantto thetop of a tower, where he may have access to the lamps; third, tothe foundations of a tower; and, fourth, to various matters and details,that will be hereinafter fully specified.

The tower herein shown is of the equilateral triangular prismatic formdescribed in another speeification, and more commonly employed atstreet-intersections in cities. It is to this form of tower that thefirst part of my invention has more particular reference.

In the drawings, Figure l is an elevation of a triangular prismatictower provided with my severalimprovements, the base being of theconstruction adapted to the corner of a street and the foundations oftwo of the baseuprightsbeingshowninverticalsection. Fig. 2 isafragmentary elevation of a similar tower wanting the particular basestructure shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation ofasimilartower having the single centerpost base described in anotherspecification. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the base structure shown inFig. l. and of superposed parts obtained by ahorizontal section atxxofFig. l. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken through theindirect line x x of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a top view of the tower andlamps. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical section taken through x x ofFig. 6. Fig. 8 is a top view ofthe elevator-cab. Fig. 9 is a verticalsection of the cab through x :r of Fig. 8. Fig. 101s an en- (N'o model.)

larged View of the lower portion of Fig. 9. Fig. 10a is a side View ofthe foot-lever of Fig. 9. Fig. 1l is a detail of the cab-clutch. Fig.V12 is a view partly in section of the devices by which tension is givento the,` ropes which are used as cab-guides.V

The special structure for street-corners will be rst described,reference being made to Figs. l, 4, and 5.

AA represent the Walks at a streetcorner, converging at a right angle, aa indicating the curb-lines, and A A the street-crossings. It is desiredto erect over the intersection of said walks askeleton tower which is ofequilateral triangular form in horizontal section, and to avoidobstructing either the walks or driveway by the supporting-posts. Tothis end a base structure is made, consisting of three uprights, B B B',the first of which is located at the intersection of the curbs, and theother of which is located at the curbs usually in line with the inneredges of the converging walks, as indicated more plainly in Fig. 4. Atarightangled street-corner said posts will obviously occupy the angles ofa right-angled triangle. Ordinarily these posts will be setjust outsidethe curbs, as also indicated in said ligure; but they may be otherwiseplaced, if preferred.

Resting upon the posts B B is secured a suitableheavy I-beam, and fromthe middle point ofsaid beam extends a similar but lighter I-beam, l',the opposite end of which rests upon the post B, as more plainlyindicated in Fig. 5. For the proper attachment of said beams to the topsof the posts, I employ recessed castings l2, which admit the ends ofthebeams, and which are preferably united to the tops'of the posts B and Bby means of union joints or couplings B2, of any suitable construction.A feature of the joints B2, as shown, is that they permit a degree ofrelative inclination, and at the same time afford full bearing of theabutting surfaces, so that the utmost sustaining-power is obtainedwithout the precise accuracy required in plain iiange-joints. f

beam l, as plainly shown in Figs. 4 and 5,

and the posts C C being set at a greater distance inward from the endsof the beam I, as seen in Fig. 4, so as to form the angles of anequilateral triangle.

As a means of connecting the feet ofthe uprights C and C with theI-beams, threaded castings, C2, are provided, which have flangesembracing the lianges of said I-beams, as indicated at the right in Fig.5, so'as to hold them laterally in place upon said beam. These castingsare suitably tapped to directly admit theY correspondingly-threaded endsof the uprights C O, but preferably a union coupling, C3, is interposed.Said coupling will ordinaril y bc of a construction adapted to affordslight adjustment of theuprights, as indicated in Fig. 5, in order thatsaid uprights may be made exactly vertical, even if lthe beam beslightly inclined. The construction ofthe coupling shown is moreparticularly described in anothetspecication. Anysuitable form ofball-and-socketjoint will, however, serve the purpose desired.

Theends of the I-bearns are shown as being secured in the recessedcastings IL by means of points d, aflixed to the ends of upright tubularposts D, which are threaded downwardly through the tops of the castingsIl, and which form the corner-posts of a railing, D', that surmounts theposts B B B. Suitable recesses, d, are countersunk in the outer surfaceof the I`beams, to admit said points d, as plainly shown in Fig. 5. D2is an iron grating,which rests upon the I-beams, and also upontransverse rails D, which bisect the angles formed by said I-beams.

By means of the base structure described, having its uprights B Blocated as shown, an unobstructed passage for pedestrians is affordedbeneath the tower, and the latter is permitted to stand over theintersection of the walks where it will lf'ast obstruct the view in thestreet, and where it maybe more easily guyed or supported from anadjacent building, it' desired, in addition to the guys which eX- tendto the curbs from elevated points on the tower. At a suitable heightarms E are attached to the uprights C of the tower, to snpport a railedplatform, E, forming a lower landing for the elevator, and at the top ofthe tower a second railed platform or landing, E2, is provided, as shownin Figs. 6 and 7,whence easy access may be had to the lamps F F.

The features of improvement relating to the elevator will next bedescribed.

It is intended that the occupant shall raise and lower the cab by hisown exertions, and to this end the hoisting-rope is made continuous andis arranged within his reach. The weight of the cab and its occupant iscounterbalanced, and the cab is made self-locking, so as to normallyremain stationary at any point where it may be arrested.

A novel feature of construction vin'the elevator consists in thecombinatiomwith flexible lcabguides G G, of a clutch or brake attachedto the cab, and constructed and arranged t0 normally hold the cabstationary, being released only by the attendant to allow the necessarymovement of the cab. The guides G G are, as described in anotherspecicatiomsuspeuded from aT ciossarm, G', Figs. 6 and 7, which, as hereshown, is secured to the central mast, H, depending from the casting H,joining the converging standards H. At their lower ends the guides Garejoined to a crossbar, G2, similar to the upper bar, G', by which saidguide-ropes are held at an equal distance apart. As also stated inanother specification, any desired means may be employed to give thenecessary tension to the guide-ropes G G; but, as shown in Fig. 12, suchtension is given by means ofthe threaded rod G3, pass ing centrallydownward through the lower orossbar, G2, and entering a coupling,G4,supported in place by the rods g g, joined `to the tower-uprights C C.

Between the head or nut upon the upper' end of the bolt G: and thecrossbar G2 is interposed a stout coiled spring, g', lby which thertension of the ropes G G will be maintained, notwithstanding any slightinequality in expansion and contraction that may take place between saidropes and the tower-uprights. Ot course said spring g' may be insertedbetween the coupling Giand the tightening-nut upon the lower end of therope, if preferred.

In Fig. l0 are shown in section the clutching devices by which the cabis held normally stationary on the guide-ropes G. Ot' these devices J isa central `transverse bar, tube, or casting in the base of the elevatorJ. J2 are boX shaped castings connected with the basepiece J by suitablecouplings, j, as shown in Fig. 10. Said boxshaped castings JL are openon one side only, and the open sides are directed toward each other.rllhey are, however, additionally provided centrally with verticalapertures, through which the guideropes G G may run freely. l

XVithin the castings J2 are located two recessed-blocks, jj", whichembrace the several guide-ropes G, as plainly seen in Figs. l() and 11.y

J i* J3 are followers inserted in the open sides of the boxes J2, beingpreferably pivotcd to the upper edges of said boxes, as shown at j, Fig.10. To these followers .are pivoially connected the arms J 4 J 4,centrally joined to form a toggle-joint, by a downward `pressure uponwhich the followers JJ are forced outward in the boxes J2, so as tocompress the ropes G between the blocksj and jl. A rod, J, depends fromthe junction of the toggle-arms J, and extends through a recessedcasting, J, connected with the rod J', said rod J5 having a head or nuton its lower end, and being provided with a spring, j, arranged to drawdownward upon said rod, and to thereby depress the toggle and throw outthe followers IIO J3, so as to grasp the ropes G.' Said ropes arereleased by the foot-lever J 7, Figs. 8,10, and 10, by which the toggleand rod J are lifted and the followers J3 withdrawn from pressure uponthe compressing-blocksj'j.

'Io the end that the occupant may raise and lower himself with the cab,the latter is connected in the endless rope L L, trained over the upperand lower pulleys, L' and L", the rope L being arranged to run inproximity to the elevator-cab. The occupant standing at an open side ofthe cab may thus reach said rope and draw himself upward or downward, asthe case may require. For the purpose of rendering this operationcomparatively easy, a counter-weight, L3, is connected in the rope L,and adjusted, preferably, to accurately counterbalance the weight ot thecab and its usual occupant. y

In operating the elevator the occupant stands with his foot pressed uponthe lever J l, so as to hold the clutch-blocks j'j'l free to allow thepassage of the guideropes G, and when he desires to bring the cab torest he releases his foot, whereupon theA clutch immediately takeseffect, and the cab is held stationary. This provision for holding thecab is obviously necessary, particularly to hold the cab at the bottomofthe tower, inasmuch as in its absence the counter-weight L3 will raisethe elevator as soon as the weight of the attendant is removed.

A button or hook or any equivalent device applied to lock theelevator-cab by engagement with any stationary part of the tower may besubstituted for the rope-clutch described without departure from myinvention, albeit the clutch is preferable as being present andoperative at all points on the guides.

The upper pulley, L', is arranged, as described in anotherspecification, in one leg, H', of the tripod at the top of the tower,which is made of the duplex construction shown more plainly in top viewof Fig. 6. rIhe lower pulley, L2, need not be supported, except by theendless rope L and a depending weight, L", which will serve to keep saidrope L taut in place, although a guide or lateral support may beemployed, if desired. That part of the hoisting-rope connected with thetop of the cab is arranged at one side of the toweraxis in order toallow the top of the cab to rise above the base ofthe mast H3, and tothis end the upper cross-bar, J, of the cab, to which said rope isattached, is supported at one side of the axis of the tower or of thecab by means of the bracketsjj. Arranging the guide-ropes G at one sideof a plane through the tower-axis by means of a bent bar, G',

while at the same time they must be strong enough to contributematerially toward supporting the tower against lateral strain underaction of heavy winds.

rIhe object of the invention, so far as the same relates to thefoundations, is to secure greater unity in the masonry forming saidfoundations; and to this end it consists in laterally confining orbinding the foundationstones or masonry to the posts beneath theground-surface.

In Fig. 1, M represents the masonry resting upon grout m and upon thebed-plates m', secured to the lower extremities of the posts B and B'.

M is a collar surrounding the post beneath the ground-surface and withinthe masonry,

and M2 are rods ruiming outwardly from said collar in oppositedirections, and preferably to all four sides of the masonry M, beingprovided with the plates m2 and nuts m" at their outer extremities,whereby said masonry is firmly clamped on all sides and held securely ina lateral direction to the post.

I claim as my inventionl. In combination with the post B, set at theangle of the walk, and the posts B' B', set at the opposite side ofthecross-walks from the post B, the beamI, joining the posts B', and thetower-uprights C, C', and C', deriving their support from said posts andbeams, substantially as described.

2. In combination with the tower-uprights C, C', and C', the basestructure described for the intersection ot' street-walks, consisting,essentially, ofthe posts B, B', and B', set in the relative positionshown, and the beams I and I', joining said posts, and forming theimmediate supports for the tower-uprights, substantially as described.

3. In combination with the posts B and B', and with the connected beamsI and I', arranged as shown, the recessedcastings Il, sur mounting theposts, and means for securing the ends of the beams to the saidcastings, substantiall y as described.

4t. In combination with the posts B and B', and with the beams I and I',the castings I2, forming seats for the ends of the beams, and

adjustable union-joints B2, connecting said castings with the posts,substantially as described.

5. In the base tower structure described, the combination, with thebeams I and I' and recessed castings I", of the points d, insertedthrough the castings Hand entering the beams, substantially asdescribed.

6. In combination with the recessed casting I2 and beam I or I', therail-post D, threaded through the upper surface ot' said casting I2, andthe point d, set in the lower end of the post D, substantially asdescribed, and for the purposes set forth.

7. In a tower, the combination, with 'thev elevator-cab and its guides,of an endless hoisting-rope, having the cab connected therein,

IOO

IIO

and a counter-weight connected in said rope, said rope being arranged inconvenient reach of the occupant of the eab, substantiallyas described,and for the purposes set forth,

8. In combination with the elevatorcab, the hoisting-rope arranged inconvenient reach of the occupant, a counteiweight connected with therope, and means for holding the cab stationary in the absence of theoccupant, sub stantiall y as described.

9. In combination with the cab-hoisting rope, counter-balance, and meanswhereby the occupant may raise and lower the cab, means for normallyholding the cab looked to the guides, and means whereby the occupant mayrelease the cab, substantially as described.

l0. In combination with the cab, and with the ileXible guide-ropes Gtherefor, the boxes J2. suitable clutch-blocks contained therein,followers J3, toggle-arms J4, means for normally depressing the toggle,and means where- Vitnesses:

GEO. R. DUNHAM, JAMES TODD.

